Traversing mechanism



Jan. 1,1946.

G. BEACH TRAVERSING MECHANISM Filed May 21, 1945 Zr g. 4 4

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0,2987: fleach INVENTOR.

Patented Jam 1, 1946 TRAVERSING MECHANISM George Beach, Newark, Ohio,assignor to Owens- Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation ofDelaware Application May 21, 1943, Serial No. 487,943

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for packaging material instrand fonn at very high winding speeds and is particularly adaptable tofiber forming processes although it may be readily utilized for ordinaryrewinding of certain kinds.

In certain fiber forming processes such as the forming of glass fibers,the fibers are gathered as they are formed into a strand which is woundon a spool or other rotating support. The requirements for winding sucha strand differ from those presented in winding yarn. The strand is madeup of a large number of individual filaments which are not twistedtogether and therefore do not have integrity in the degree found inyarn. Should the strand be wound upon a spool with successive turns inside by side relation as is usually done with yarn the filaments ofadjacent turns might well become so intertangled that identity of thestrand would become lost. Attempts to unwind a package formed in thismanner often results in breaking one or more of the fibers or filamentswhich do not unwind as the strand is removed, and these broken filamentsform what are known as ringers. The formation of ringers on the spooloften becomes so serious that a large portion of the spool cannot beunwound, thus resulting in a large amount of waste.

To minimize the dividing of the strand and the consequent formation ofringers, the strand may be placed on the spool in large helixes so thatthe strands will cross each other at large angles and thus eliminatemuch of the tendency to become entangled. Ringers are therebypractically elimihated and such positioning of the strand permitsreadily removing it for twisting, rewinding or such other succeedingoperations.

A package having the desired winding is formed by traversing the strandas it is wound along the package at a comparatively high rate of speed.It has been found that moving the strand at least one the full length ofthe package for each one or two rotations of the package will produce asuitably wound package, although a traverse of the length of the packagefor every three or four rotations of the package has proven satisfactoryfor some strands.

Another factor in obtaining a readily unwound package is. the tensionunder which the strand is wound while forming the package, increasedtension usually making it more difllcult to remove the strand. This isparticularly true in the winding of a package of newly formed glassfibers due to the inherent tendency of the fibers to seize and abradeeach other when in surface contact. The

efiect of abrasive action between the fibers forming the strand itselfis materially increased if ad- Jacent turns on the spool are in parallelor substantially parallel relation, apparently because of the increaseddegree of surface contact between fibers of adjacent turns.

A lubricant and binding material is usually applied to the strand toboth prevent abrading action and hold the filaments together in anintegral strand. Since the strand is being formed and wound at arelatively high rate of speed the lubricant and binding material isusually still in a wet or fluid state when the strand is wound on thespool. When the wet strand is wound under tension there is a tendency ofthe adjacent and overlying strands in the package to be bonded togetherby the binding material so that, in effect, the completed package is asolid mass of glass fibers bonded together. This makes it very difilcultif not impossible to unwind the package in the further processing of thestrand.

Numerous types of traversing mechanisms have been employed for highspeed winding, one of the most successful being the apparatus shown inthe patent to Thomas and Fletcher, No. 2,325,640, granted August 3,1943. This is a rotary type traverse adaptable for high speed winding.The apparatus is one in which the strand is drawn to the package at suchan angle relative to the package that it tends to traverse along thepackage in one direction under the influence of its tendency to meet thepackage at a right angle. The movement of the strand in the oppositedirection is efiected by the periodical engagement of the strand by aprojection on a rotating disk which moves the strand along the packageand releases it at the end of the package.

This type of traverse is not entirely satisfactory when it is desired togreatly increase the winding speed. For example, at winding speeds inthe range of 12,000 to 20,000 revolutions per minute it is necessary tomove the strand the full length of the package at-a rate of 6,000 to10,000 times per minute if it is desired to obtain a half-wind, that is,one traverse of half the length of the package for each rotation of thepackage. In order to obtain this increased speed of traverse the angularrelation of the strand to the spool must be acutely increased so thatthere will be a reduction of the interval required for the return of thestrand under its tendency to assume a right angle relation with thespool. The increased angle oftentimes increases the winding tension tothe point of creating the undesirable conditions previously discussed.

Further, the increased winding speed causes a greater lag of the strandbehind the movement of the projection on the disk when reversal oftraverse of the strand is imparted by the projection, and this lag tendsto build up the end of the package, causing an overlapping of thestrands and increasing the difiiculty of unwinding.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difllcultiesby positively moving the strand from one end of the package to theother. This enables higher traversing speeds to be reached and furtherresults in a more uniformly wound package. The positive traversing ofthe strand also maintains a substantially constant angular relationbetween the strand and the package, thereby preventing any objectionalchange in the winding tension.

It is a further object to provide continuously rotating means foreffecting positive traverse in opposite directions, thereby avoiding thedimculties attendant on reciprocation of traversing mechanism at veryhigh speeds.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means forreciprocating the rotatable traversing mechanism whereby the width ofthe package is increased beyond the normal dimension provided by thetraverse. This also more evenly distributes the winds and prevents abuilding up of the ends of the package.

Other objects and features of novelty will become apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one type of fiber forming apparatusshowing the present invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention in operating position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevational view taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the traversing bar; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bar.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the invention is illustrated inconnection with apparatus for forming continuous glass fibers includinga glass melting furnace ID from which a series of streams of moltenglass flow. The streams are attenuated into continuous filaments I i bymeans of a rotatable drum or spool l2 onto which the filaments arewound. The filaments are gathered together into a strand III by a guideIt located between the spool and the furnace and which is adapted toapply a suitable lubricant and binder to the filaments as they aregathered into a strand.

The spool I2 is removably mounted on a horizontally disposed spindle l5which is adapted to be driven at a relatively high speed by suitabledriving mechanism indicated generally at l6.

As the strand I3 is drawn to the spool l2 it is necessary that thestrand be traversed lengthwise thereof to prevent an intertangling ofthe fibers of adiacent strands which would tend to hinder the unwindingof the strand during the rewinding or other operation. Mechanism fortraversing the strand'along the package includes a traversing unit 18disposed adjacent the spindle l5 and substantially in vertical alignmentwith the path of the strand. The unit ll comprises a traverse shaft l9rotatable about a horizontal axis and driven by a motor 20 preferably ina counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

'The traversing shaft and associated mechanism including the motor 2|(Figure 3) are mounted on a support 2| which is adapted for reciprocalmotion in a stationary slideway 22 in the direction of the axis ofrotation of the traversing shaft. The movement of the support 2| may beeffected by suitable gearing driven by the motor 20 which includes aworm 20a on the motor shaft meshing with a gear 20b carried by thesupport 2|. A link 22a, pivoted at one end eccentricall on the gear 20bis connected at its other end for vertical swinging movement to thestationary member 22 and forms a crank which produces the reciprocatorymovement of the traverse shaft. As the motor 20 is operated rotation isimparted'to the gear 20?: so that it moves about its journal on thesupport 2|, thereby varying the distance between the axis of said,journal and the pivot of the link on the stationary member 22. It willbe apparent that'as the outer pivot of the link is moved to either sideof the axis of the gear 20b the distance between the gear and thestationary slideway is correspondingly increased or decreased, and theslide 2| is reciprocated.

The traversing movement of the strand i2 is under the direct control ofa pair of substantially spirally shaped complementary cam members 23carried by the traverse shaft I9 (Figures 4 and 5). The members 23 maywell be formed of steel wire as illustrated or of any suitable materialcapable of resisting the wearing action of the strand. Referringparticularly to Figures 3 and 4 each member 23 of the traverse extendsthrough slightly more than 180 of a convolution. The inner or lower end24 of the cam terminates inside (in an axial direction) of the largediameter end 25 of the complementary cam member and is preferably alsooverlapped by the large diameter end. Due to the relation of the ends ofthe cams in axial directions, the strand upon completion of a traverseat the small diameter of the cam member is in a position to be engagedby the large diameter of the complementary cam, and, where the opposedends of the cams are in overlapping relation as shown, this engagementby the large diameter occurs immediately upon cessation of eachtraverse. A line traced along the contour of the cam member followssubstantially the form of a spiral inscribed on the surface of a coneforming a conical spiral, the angle of tangency with the axis of theshaft being suitable to provide a sufficient component of forcetransverse of the strand to move the strand lengthwise of the spool.This angle may be varied depending upon the speed of winding, thetension on the strand, the rate of traverse, the length of traverse, andother less important factors, the optimum angle being readilyascertainable by trial.

The traversing of the strand by the cams 23 is adapted to produce apackage having a width substantially equal to the length of the cams.

Any tendency of the traversing means to build up the ends of thepackagedue to a lagging of the strand at either end is overcome byreason of the reciprocating mechanism which moves the traverse shaftlongitudinally of its axis to thereby direct the strand over a greaterlength of the spool. This results in producing a package in which thecentral portion is substantially thicker than its ends as shown inFigure 2. The spool is driven in a clockwise direction for drawing thestrand and the traverse member is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection. Since the traverse mechanism may be rotated at highperipheral speed, approaching and sometimes substantially equaling thelinear speed of the strand, only a slight differential in tension as aresult of the traverse is encountered. This permits the strand to bereadily traversed along the package at a minimum angle to the axis ofthe spool.

The rapid traversing motion imparted to the strand together with therelatively slow reciprocation of the traverse unit produces a package inwhich the strands are well separated, and may cross at substantially theangles shown at a and b in Figure 2. The strand is thus readily removedfor succeeding operations of twisting or rewinding.

Modificationsmay be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims,

I claim:

1. Apparatus for winding a fibrous material in strand form including asource for supplying said strand, a spool rotatable about a horizontalaxis adapted to receive the strand, strand traversing means disposedadjacent said spool and substantially in the pathway of the strandbetween said source and spool, said traversing means comprising a shaftrotatable about an axis parallel with said spool, a pair of independentcomplementary cams on said shaft for moving the strand longitudinally ofthe spool to form a package thereon, the adjacent ends of said camsoverlapping and being spaced apart with the minor diameter of one camterminating within the major diameter of the other to alternately engagethe strand to reverse the direction thereof, and means for reciprocatingsaid traversing means longitudinally to form overlapping layers ofstrand on said spool.

2. In a winding mechanism, a spindle for rotatingly supporting a spooladapted to receive and wind a strand thereon, a guide for the strand, ashaft disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle,complementary cams of conical spiral form supported for rotation on saidshaft, each cam being disposed with its major diameter opposed to theminor diameter of the next adjacent cam, and means for rotating theshaft to bring said cams into engagement with said strand in succession.

3. In a winding mechanismfa rotatable spindle for supporting a spooladapted to receive and wind a strand thereon, a guide for the strand, ashaft disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said spindle, apair of opposed cams of conical spiral form supported on said shaft forrotation about their axes of generation, each said cam extending throughat least 180 degrees of convolution and having its major diameteropposed to the minor diameter of the other cam, and means for rotatingthe shaft to bring said cams into engagement with said strand insuccession.

4. In a winding mechanism, a spool adapted to receive and wind a strandthereon, a guide for the strand spaced from the-spool and from which thestrand is drawn to the spool, a shaft located adjacent the spool andjournaled for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the pathof the strand from the guide to the spool, a pair of opposed overlappingcams of conical spiral form on the shaft, each said cam extendingthrough at least 180 degrees of convolution and having its majordiameter substantially overlying the minor'diameter of the opposed cam,and means for rotating the shaft to bring said cams into engagement withsaid strand in succession.

5. In a winding mechanism having a spool adapted to receive and supporta strand thereon, a strand traversing element comprising a rotatableshaft, cams formed from wires bent to substantially spiral conical formand secured in angularly spaced relation about said shaft for alternateengagement with the strand to traverse it along the spool, the minordiameter of each cam terminating inside of the major diameter of thenext adjacent cam, and means for rotating the shaft.

6. In a winding mechanism having a spool adapted to receive and supporta strand thereon, a strand traversing element comprising a rotatableshaft, a pair of wires forming cams and bent to substantially spiralconical form oppositely arranged on said shaft for alternate engagementwith the strand to traverseit along the spool, the major diameter ofeach cam overlying the minor diameter of the opposed cam, and means forrotating the shaft.

7. In a winding mechanism having a spool adapted to receive and supporta strand thereon, a strand traversing element comprising a rotatableshaft, 'apair of wires forming cams and bent to substantially spiralconical form opposite- 1y arranged on said shaft for alternateengagement with the strand to traverse it along the spool, the minordiameters of each of said cams lying inside the terminus of the majordiameter of the other cam, and means for rotating the shaft.

8. In a winding mechanism having means rotatably supporting a spooladapted to receive and support a strand thereon, a strand traversingelement comprising a rotatable shaft, cams formed from wires bent tosubstantially spiral conical shape and secured in spaced angularrelation about said shaft for alternate engagement with the strand totraverse it along the spool, the minor diameter of one cam and the majordiameter of the next adjacent cam lying substantially within commonradial planes passing through the axis of said shaft, and means forrotating the shaft.

9. In a winding mechanism, a spool adapted to receive and wind a strandthereon, a guide for the strand spaced from the spool, cams of conicalspiral form supported with their axes of generation in alignment and forrotation in common about their axes of generation and engaging thestrand, each cam being disposed with its maJor diameter Opposed to theminor diameter of the next adjacent cam and offset relative thereinlengthwise of the said axes, said axes being disposed transversely ofsaid strand between said guide and said spool and parallel with the axisof said spool and spaced therefrom, and means for rotating the camsabout said axes independently of said spool.

GEORGE BEACH.

